Terry Richard, The OregonianLepage Park is a good place for friends from western and eastern Oregon to meet.

LEPAGE CAMPGROUND

Description: Lepage is a small riverside camping park, but is a great spot for friends from Portland and eastern Oregon to meet and play cards at the mouth of the John Day River.

Location: 114 miles east of Portland, or five miles east of Rufus

Find it: Drive I-84 to Exit 114 and the park entrance.

Camping: 22 sites for RVs and tents; overflow area for tents on weekends and holidays; showers; opens April 1.
In the park: Water access for fishing and swimming; affiliated Giles French Park on the Columbia River, accessible from Rufus, has free undesignated camping (used mostly by fishermen) just below John Day Dam. Restrooms are two miles apart at the French Park camping area, so tent campers tent to set up near them.

Food stop: Head to Rufus for dinner at Bob's Texas T-Bone and a nightcap at Frosty's Lounge, or a homemade sandwich at Hi-Way Market and Deli.
Civil sights: Tours of John Day Dam have been shut down by the Department of Homeland Security, so the main attraction nearby is the 7:30 p.m. bingo game on Saturdays in the Rufus community center.